Syracuse is taking its lumps

Orange lose for fourth time in their past five games, this one at home

Associated Press

Associated Press

Published 11:27 pm, Tuesday, March 4, 2014

SYRACUSE, NY - MARCH 04: Trae Golden #23 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets takes a shot over C.J. Fair #5 of the Syracuse Orange during the first half at the Carrier Dome on March 4, 2014 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 185399005

SYRACUSE, NY - MARCH 04: Trae Golden #23 of the Georgia Tech...

SYRACUSE, NY - MARCH 04: C.J. Fair #5 of the Syracuse Orange takes a shot over Robert Carter, Jr. #4 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the first half at the Carrier Dome on March 4, 2014 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 185399005

A month ago, Syracuse was unbeaten, ranked No. 1 and riding high. Now, the Orange are struggling toward the postseason having lost four of five.

Trae Golden scored 16 points, including six clutch free throws in the final seconds, and Georgia Tech stunned No. 7 Syracuse 67-62 on Tuesday night, the Orange's second straight home loss to a team with a sub-.500 record.

Syracuse (26-4, 13-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) started the season with 25 straight wins and spent three weeks at No. 1.

"I'm not happy with tonight, but I'm very happy to be 26-4," coach Jim Boeheim said. "We're well ahead of predictions. We just have to regroup.

"I try to look at the big picture and not snapshots. We're in good position. When you get in the (NCAA) tournament, you're going to play somebody good. You play good, you have a chance to win. You play well, seeding doesn't matter. It's as simple as that."

Last season, Syracuse stumbled down the stretch of the regular season, losing four of its final five games, the last a humbling 61-39 loss at former Big East archrival Georgetown. The Orange responded by winning three straight games in the Big East Tournament, losing to eventual national champion Louisville in the title game, and then went on to the Final Four.

"It didn't end the way I wanted it to," said C.J. Fair, who matched his career high with 28 points in the final home game of his career. "It happened, but our season's not over. I still have a chance to win my last game."

Golden won it with some clutch free-throw shooting in the final 35 seconds.

"I kind of went back to when I was a kid and just knocked them in," said Golden, who was 8 of 8 from the line. "My dad used to make me nervous when I was younger. It made me think about that calm. It really helped me out."

Georgia Tech (14-16, 5-12) snapped a four-game losing streak, and its previous five ACC road trips had produced two wins, an overtime loss, a three-point loss, a four-point loss and a 10-point loss.

The Yellow Jackets, who at one point in the season had only seven scholarship players available, close the regular season against Virginia Tech on Saturday with the conference tournament looming next week.

"Big might be an understatement. It's a huge win for us," Golden said. "We beat one of the top teams in the country."

The loss cost the Orange a great chance to lock up a high seed in the conference tournament.

Jerami Grant, their top rebounder, had been hobbled by back problems the past two games and watched in street clothes as freshman Tyler Roberson made his first start of the season. Grant's absence was felt as only Fair and freshman Tyler Ennis, with 18 points, scored in double figures.

"Not having him, he's a big part of our team," Fair said of Grant. "It could have been a different game if he was there. You never know, but it's a big blow to the team."